Sleeping car



June 23, 1925. 1,543,298

7 A. R. ROSSMAN SLEEPING CAR 'Filed Nov. 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 "1lNVENTOR E{ flGNEs R. Ross/7AM! ATTORNEYS June 23, I925. 1,543,298

A. R. ROSSMAN SLEEPING CAR Filed Nov. is, 1924 5 sheets-sheep 5 INVENTORHam/ 5 R. Rosana/V I 3M4 QKZlI/k A ORNEYS June 23', 1925.

A. R. ROSSMAN SLEEP ING CAR Filed Nov. 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR 676N155 Ross/76W ATTORNEYS A. R. ROSSMAN June 23, 1925.

SLEEP ING CAR Filed Nov. 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR fiGA/Es If.ROSS/MN ATTORNEYS Patented June "2 3, 19 25.

UNITEl) STATES P A TE NTl oFFlcEL AGNES. R. ROSSMAN, or scorer: PLAINS,New JERSEY.

stnnrrne cm.

i 5 Application filed November 13, 1924. Serial N'o. 749,577.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, AGNES R. ROSSMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scotch Plains, county of'Union, and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleeping Cars, ofwhich the following is a specification.

- This invention relates to improvements in railway cars, and hasparticular reference to an improved sleeping car construction.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved construction ofsleeping car wherein the berths are so arranged as'to provide toiletaccessories for the occupants and enable them to dress and disrobe withconsiderable more comfort and convenience than in the cars now commonlyemployed.

Another objectis to interpose between two sets of. berths a dressingroom compartment individual to each set and to divide eachcompartmentinto upper and lower sections each having communication withone, of the berths of the set to which said compartment is individual. 5

Still another object is to establish direct communication between eachlower berth and the associated section of its compartment so as-to avoidthe necessity of the occupant of a berth entering th aisle of the carwhen passing back and forth between his berth and compartment section.

A further object is to provide eachupper berth of a set with means,capable of storage within the berth when not in use, which willfacilitate entrance to and exit from the berth and which will notobstruct the aisle of the car when said means is not actually beingused. 1

A still further object is to provide a common support for the lowerberth curtains and the hunk of the upper berth when said bunk is in itsoperative position.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the followingdetailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section througha railway car showing in side elevation one set of berths and itsassociated compartment;

Fi re 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the berths made up foroccupancy,

the associated compartment being shown in vertical longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; p

Figure 4 is a similar section on the'line 4 -4ofFigure1;

Figure 5 is .a fragmentary dia rammatic view showing the arrangement oferths and compartments in the car;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical longi tifdinal section showing themanner of supporting the bunk'of the upper berth and the mounting forthe curtains of the lower berths;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the meansaffording access to and exit from the upper berth with saidmeans in itsoperative osition Y Figure 8 is a side e ovation showing the means ofFigure 7 in its inoperative position;

Figure 9 is an enlarged edge elevation of said means, the dotted linesindicating the operative position thereof; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of said means.

Referring more particularly to Figure 5 in. which the schematic layoutof the car is illustrated, the numeral 11 indicates gen erally the bodyof the car having the usual vestibule 12 at one end entering into. theaisle 13. Adjacent each end of the car there is provided the usuallounge room 14 with the communicating lavatory 15. The re mainder of thecar is divided into a plurality of sets of berths, generally indicatedby the numeral 16, each set including an upper berth 17 and a lowerberth18 separated by the pivoted bunk 19, which may be of the usualconstruction commonly'employed and which is movable to the inoperativeposition shown in Figure 4; against the upper side and roof of the carwhen the berth is not in use. Each of the sets of berths 16 on oppositesides of the aisle 13 at the right hand end of the car, as illustratedin Figure 5, has associated therewith a compartment, generally indicatedby the numeral 20, the spethe next adjacent set of berths. Thisarrangement of berths and compartments is continued throughout theremainder of the length of the car with the berths at the oppositeend'arranged as described in connection with the berths adjacent thelounge room 14. The compartment 20 diagonally opposite from the loungeroom 14 may, in accordance with the present construction, be providedwith a shower bathroom, conventionally illustrated by the numeral 21. v

The lower berth 18 of each set is substantially of the same constructionas now employed in the Pullman car with the seats therein arranged sothat the'same may be made up as a bunk. The top section 22 of the backof the seat, when the seat is formed' into a bunk, is detached from itsoperative position and placed under the bunk, as shown in Figures 2 and3. The end wall 23 of the lower berth of each set adjacent theassociated'compartment 20 is provided with an opening 24 which isnormally closed by a vertically folding door 25 which may be raised tothe position shown in Figure 2 and held in such position by a catch 26so that the occupant ofthe lower berth may readily enter his compartment20 through the opening 24 without passing into the aisle of the car.Each compartment 20 is divided into lower and upper sections 27 and 28,respectively, by means of a parti tion 29 and the lower section of eachcompartment contain various toilet accessories for the convenience ofthe occupant of the lower berth The lower section 27 of the compartmentis also provided with a door 30 through which access may be obtained tothe compartment from the aisle 13 of the car when the berths are notmade up. If desired, the two adjacentcompartments 20 may be providedwith folding communicating doors 31 which may be locked, if necessary.The upper section 28 of each compartment is provided for the purpose ofconvenience to the occupant of the associated fupper berth 17 and may bemade sufiiciently large to store luggage or clothing therein when theberth is occupied. Communication may be afiorded from the berth to theupper section 28 through a door 32 formed in the -wall 23 separating thecompartment from its associated set of berths. The upper section mayalso be provided with doors 34 through which access may be had to theupper section 28 from the aisle 13.

At each end of each set of berths there is arranged a. verticalsupporting member or standard 35, preferably of hollow construction andcapable of receiving therein a cur- I tain roller 36 upon which is woundone section 37 of a flexible curtain of any desired constructionemployed for the purpose of enclosing the lower berth when the same isoccupied. The free or outer end of each Suitable latching devices 41 maybe utilized i to secure the bars 38 together when the curtain is in itsclosing position. The upper end of the roller 36, which may be of anydesired construction wherein a spring is provided for rolling thecurtain section upon said roller, is rotatably mounted in the head 42 ofthe standard 35, which head is provided with a reduced extension 43 uponwhich an ornamental knob 44 may be mounted when the hunk of the upperberth is in its inoperative position. These knobs may be replaced bylight globes which enclose suitable lights, the wire for which may beextended through the standards 35. When said bunk is lowered to theposition shown in Figure 3 the knobs or light globes 44 are removed andthe outer edge of the bunk 19 is supported upon the head 42 of thestandard by providing a suitable opening 45 in the bunk which willreceive the reduced extension 43. In order that the bunk may bemaintained in its operative position a looking device is provided whichconsists of a spring pressed bolt 46 carried by the bunk 19 andengageable with the extension 43, as shown in Figure 6. By thisconstruction it will be obvious that the bunk 19 is efl'ectively held inits operative position until such time when the bolts 46 are retractedfrom engagement with the extensions 43 whereupon said bunk may be swungupwardly to its inoperative position.

In accordance with the present invention the upper berth is providedwith a guard rail 47 of a height substantially equal to the width of thebunk 19 and including a supporting section or arm 48 from which thecurtain 49 may be suspended. This guard rail 47 is pivoted to the outeredge of the bunk 19 at 50 and is braced in its operative position bymeans of the pivotedhnks 51, connected respectively to the guardrail'and to the bunk, as shown ,in Figure 3. When not in use the guardrail may be folded upon the top of the bunk 19, as shown in Figure 4, insuch manner that when the bunk is in its inoperative position a suitableplace for the guard rail will be proing the inner and outer side members54.- and 55, respectively, connected by a plural- -ity*of steps 56hinged to the Side members, as indicated at57, so that the side membersguard rail 47 and stored in this position.

The inner side member 54 has extending upwardly therefrom a pair ofstraps 59, the upper free ends of which are curved so as to engage overthe outer edge of the bunk 19 and thus suspend the ladder in itsoperative position. With the ladder in the position shown in Figure 8the steps 56 thereof are disposed vertically and the depending arm 53 ofthe gate 52 is engaged with the inner surface of the top step. Thusswhen the gate 52 is swung open' the outward movement of the same willcause the arm I r 53 to force the outer side member 55 and consequentlythe steps 56 outwardly and downwardly against the tension of the springs58 to the position shown in Figure 7 Thereupon the occupant of the berthmay step upon the ladder and thereby reach the floor of the car. As longas the gate remains open the lower end of the arm 53 will engage the topstep and maintain the ladder in its operative position. If desired, theoccupant of the berth'may reach up and close the gate to. permit theladder to restore to its folded position under the in fluence of thesprings 58 so as not to obstruct the aisle. In order to again enter theberth it is only necessary to swing the outer side member outwardly anddownwardly and then step upon the ladder to hold it in its operativeposition until .the gate can again be opened:

What is claimed is:

1. In a sleeping car construction, a plurality of sets of berths, and aplurality of dressing room compartments disposed between adjacent setsof berths and each individual to one of said sets.

2. In a' sleeping car construction, a set of berths, and a compartmentat the end of said set and divided into upper and lower sections eachindividual to one of the berths of the set.

3. In a sleeping car construction, a plurality of sets of upper and.lower berths,

and a plurality of compartments disposed between said sets and eachindividual to one of them, each com artment being divided into upper andorwer' sections each individual, res ectively, to the upper and lowerberths o the associated set.

4. In a sleeping car construction, a plurality of sets of berths, aplurality ofdressing room compartments disposed between said sets ofberths, and a communicating door between, said compartments 5. In asleeping car construction, a berth, a compartment arranged adjacent saidberth, and doors for said compartment one of which permits access tosaid compartment from said berth and the other from the aisle of thecar.

6. In a sleeping car-construction, upper and lower berths, a compartmentadjacent I said berths and including upper and lower section'sassociated, respectively, with the upper and lower berths, and doors foreach section of said compartment one of which permits access to saidsection from the associated berth and the other from the aisle of thecar. 1 I

7. In a sleeping car construction, a berth, a compartment arrangedvadjacent said berth, a foldable door afi'ording communication betweensaid berth and 'compart-' ment,'and a second door for thecompartmentpermitting access thereto from the aisle of the car.

8. In a sleeping car construction, upper and lower berths, a bunk forsaid upper berth having a trackway therein, supporting members uponwhich said bunk rests when in operative position, and curtains for thelower berth normally contained within said supporting members and havingportions engageable in said trackwayto guide said curtain when moved topositions to enclose. said lower berth.

9. In a sleeping car construction, a set of berths, a compartmentindividual thereto and divided into sections corresponding in number tothe number of berths in said set, and means aflording access directly 711. In a sleeping car construction, ,a berth including a bunk pivoted tothe body of the car, a supporting member arranged at each end of saidberth and upon which said bunk rests when the latter is in operativeosition, and cooperating means between-t e bunk and su porting membersfor locking the bunk in'ltsoperative position.

12. In a sleeping car construction, a berth including a bunk pivoted tothe body otthe car, a supporting member arranged at each end of saidberth and upon which said bunk for bunk rests when'the' latter is inoperative position, and a locking bolt carried by said bunk andengageable with one of the sup porting members for retaining said bunkin operative position.

13. In a sleeping car construction, upper and lower berths, a bunk forsaid upper berth, supporting members upon which said bunk rests when inoperative position, curtains-for the lower berth normally containedwithin said supporting members and movable to positions therefrom toenclose said lower berth, and meanscarried by said guiding said curtainsto saidpositions. I

14. In a sleeping car construction, upper with said members for lockingthe bunk in its operative position, curtains for the lower berthcontained within said supporting members and movable to positions therefrom to enclose said lower berth, and means carried by said bunk forguiding said ourtains to said positions.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

AGNES R. RossMAn.

